EXCLUSIVE: The Justice Department announced Tuesday that it is expanding its Northeast Health Care Fraud Strike Force to Philadelphia as federal and state authorities target alleged Medicare and Medicaid fraud involving home health care services.The expansion will establish a strike force office in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and bring together the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and the U.S.Attorney’s Office for the district.In connection with the announcement, federal and Pennsylvania authorities charged 19 defendants accused of participating in schemes involving more than $4 million in claims submitted to Medicare and Medicaid, according to a DOJ release obtained by Fox News.
The defendants include home health care company owners, employees, purported aides and Medicaid recipients.Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday also announced a plea agreement involving the final defendant in a previously charged 21-defendant case tied to more than $1.7 million in claims.LETITIA JAMES HAMMERED AFTER NY MEDICAID FRAUD UNIT FUNDING FROZEN OVER INEFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENTThe Justice Department announced an expansion of the Fraud Division’s Northeast Health Care Fraud Strike Force to Philadelphia.(Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)"The Fraud Division’s expansion into the Eastern District of Pennsylvania brings enhanced federal resources to a district with an established tradition of strong health care fraud enforcement," the DOJ said.
"The partnership between the Fraud Division and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania will uniquely enable law enforcement to combat criminals who hide behind corporations to commit fraud."The cases include allegations that home health aides billed Medicaid for services while they were incarcerated, hospitalized, working other jobs or traveling overseas.In another case, prosecutors said a Medicaid recipient claimed to require extensive home health assistance while also working as a carpenter.The No...